Video apparatus having software upgrade capability and method for controlling the same

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a video apparatus with a software upgrade function and a method for controlling the same, wherein software of the video apparatus can be downloaded through the use of a broadcast signal and the existing software of the video apparatus can be upgraded with the downloaded software, and software of a version desired by the user can be selected as needed. The video apparatus includes a tuner for receiving software of the video apparatus sent from a broadcast transmitting station, a controller for detecting the software of the video apparatus, downloading the detected software to a memory and upgrading the video apparatus with the downloaded software, and the memory adapted for storing the downloaded software under control of the controller.

1 . A method for performing software upgrade of a video apparatus, the method comprising: 
 receiving a software upgrade instruction from a user;    downloading software associated with operation of the video apparatus from a broadcast station in response to the received instruction; and    upgrading the video apparatus by executing the downloaded software.    
     
     
         2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein, when the broadcast transmitting station is a cable broadcasting station, the software is downloaded through a pre-installed cable.  
     
     
         3 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein, when the broadcast transmitting station is a terrestrial or satellite broadcasting station, the software is downloaded over a specific terrestrial or satellite broadcasting channel.  
     
     
         4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein, the broadcast station receives the software provided from a video apparatus manufacturer.  
     
     
         5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the downloading software comprises: 
 sequentially searching a plurality of valid channels to detect, from among the valid channels, a channel over which at least one transport stream containing the same information as a maker name and model name of the video apparatus, pre-stored in a memory of the video apparatus, is received; and    if the channel is detected, downloading software contained in the transport stream received over the detected channel.    
     
     
         6 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the downloading software further comprises downloading the software contained in the received transport stream only when a software version of the received transport stream is different from a software version pre-stored in the memory of the video apparatus.  
     
     
         7 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving a software upgrade instruction comprises: 
 displaying electronic program guide (EPG) indicating a channel over which the software of the video apparatus is scheduled to be sent; and    selecting a software version by a user using the displayed EPG information.    
     
     
         8 . The method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the EPG contains a number of the channel over which the software of the video apparatus is sent, a time at which the software of the video apparatus is sent, and information indicating changes in the software of the video apparatus.  
     
     
         9 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the software is downloaded in the form of at least one transport stream having a packet identifier, the packet identifier indicating a maker name, model name and software version of the video apparatus.  
     
     
         10 . A video apparatus having software upgrade capability, comprising: 
 a tuner for receiving software associated with operation of a video apparatus from a broadcast station;    a controller for detecting the software from a broadcast signal, downloading the detected software, and upgrading the video apparatus by executing the downloaded software; and    a memory for storing the downloaded software under control of the controller.    
     
     
         11 . The video apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the tuner downloads the software through a pre-installed cable when the broadcast station is a cable broadcasting station.  
     
     
         12 . The video apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the tuner downloads the software over a specific terrestrial or satellite broadcasting channel when the broadcast transmitting station is a terrestrial or satellite broadcasting station.  
     
     
         13 . The video apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the controller identifies a specific channel over which the software is downloaded, in response to a signal inputted through a user interface, and controls the tuner to tune to the identified channel.  
     
     
         14 . The video apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the controller controls the tuner to sequentially tune to a plurality of valid channels so as to detect, from among the valid channels, a channel over which a transport stream containing the same information as a maker name and model name of the video apparatus, pre-stored in the memory of the video apparatus, is received, and downloads software contained in the transport stream received over the detected channel to the memory.  
     
     
         15 . The video apparatus as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the controller downloads the software contained in the transport stream only when a software version of the received transport stream is different from a software version pre-stored in the memory of the video apparatus.  
     
     
         16 . The video apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising a display unit displaying an electronic program guide (EPG) indicating at least one channel over which the software of the video apparatus is scheduled to be sent, wherein the controller selects software of a version selected by a user from the displayed EPG.  
     
     
         17 . The video apparatus as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the EPG indicates a number of the channel over which the software of the video apparatus is scheduled to be sent, a time at which the software of the video apparatus is scheduled to be sent, and information indicating changes in the software of the video apparatus.  
     
     
         18 . The video apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the software is downloaded in the form of at least one transport stream having a packet identifier, the packet identifier indicating a maker name, model name and software version of the video apparatus.  
     
     
         19 . A method for performing software upgrade of a video apparatus, the method comprising: 
 detecting electronic program guide (EPG) information sent from a broadcast station and storing the detected EPG information in a memory of the video apparatus;    displaying a EPG based on the EPG information, the EPG indicating a channel over which software associated with operation of the video apparatus is scheduled to be sent; and    downloading, to the memory, software of a version selected by a user from the displayed EPG, and upgrading the video apparatus by executing the downloaded software.    
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 19 , the EPG further indicates a number of the channel over which the software is scheduled to be sent, a time at which the software is scheduled to be sent, and information indicating changes in the software of the video apparatus.  
     
     
         21 . The method as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the detecting and storing the EPG information comprises detecting the EPG information using a packet identifier of a transport stream received from the broadcast station.  
     
     
         22 . The method as set forth in  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 Setting a download time for the selected version of software using the displayed EPG information; and    if the downloaded time is reached, downloading the selected version of software over a channel and installing the downloaded software in the video apparatus.    
     
     
         23 . The method as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the downloading and installing the selected version of software comprises: 
 displaying a message asking the user whether to download and install the selected version of software, on a screen of the video apparatus; and    downloading and installing the selected version of software if a software download/install instruction is inputted from the user.    
     
     
         24 . The method as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the downloading and installing the selected version of software comprises, automatically downloading and installing the selected version of software without outputting a message asking the user whether to download and install the selected version of software, on a screen of the video apparatus.  
     
     
         25 . A video apparatus having a software upgrade capability, comprising: 
 a tuner for receiving a broadcast signal having a predetermined frequency;    a memory for storing EPG information contained in the broadcast signal received by the tuner, the EPG information indicating a channel over which software of the video apparatus is scheduled to be sent;    a display unit for displaying an EPG based on the EPG information stored in the memory; and    a controller for extracting the EPG information from the broadcast signal, storing the extracted EPG information in the memory, and downloading and installing specific software selected by a user from the displayed EPG.    
     
     
         26 . The video apparatus as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the EPG information indicates a number of the channel over which the software of the video apparatus is scheduled to be sent, a time at which the software of the video apparatus is scheduled to be sent, and information showing changes in the software of the video apparatus.  
     
     
         27 . The video apparatus as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the controller detects the EPG information using a packet identifier of a transport stream of the broadcast signal received by tuner.  
     
     
         28 . The video apparatus as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the controller sets a download time for the selected version of software using the displayed EPG information, and, if the download time is reached, downloads the selected version of software over a channel and installs the downloaded software in the video apparatus.  
     
     
         29 . The video apparatus as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the controller displays a message asking a user whether to download and install a desired version of software, on a screen of the video apparatus through the display unit, and downloads and installs the selected version of software if a software download/install instruction is inputted from the user.  
     
     
         30 . The video apparatus as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the controller automatically downloads and installs a selected version of software without outputting a message asking a user whether to download and install the selected version of software, on a screen of the video apparatus.  
     
     
         31 . A method for performing software upgrade of a video apparatus, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a software upgrade instruction;    in response to the received instruction, sequentially searching a plurality of valid channels to detect, from among the valid channels, a channel over which a transport stream containing the same information as a maker name and model name of the video apparatus, pre-stored in a memory of the video apparatus, is received;    if the channel over which the transport stream containing the same information as the maker name and model name pre-stored in the memory is received is detected, downloading software contained in the transport stream received over the detected channel; and    upgrading the video apparatus with the downloaded software.    
     
     
         32 . A video apparatus with a software upgrade function, comprising: 
 a tuner for receiving software of the video apparatus sent from a broadcast transmitting station;    a controller for controlling the tuner to sequentially tune to a plurality of valid channels so as to detect, from among the valid channels, a channel over which a transport stream containing the same information as a maker name and model name of the video apparatus, pre-stored in a memory of the video apparatus, is received, and, if the channel over which the transport stream containing the same information as the maker name and model name pre-stored in the memory is received is detected, downloading software contained in the transport stream received over the detected channel to the memory; and    the memory adapted for storing the downloaded software under control of the controller.